Book Tour, Review, Author Interview
and Giveaway
Join us for this tour from July 6 to July 26, 2021!
Book Details:
Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot
Release date: July, 2021
Content Rating: G.
traveling with Amal’s special caravan, and when one of them speaks up around the campfire one night, everything changes for little Amal!Amazon ~ B&N
Mascot Books
My Thoughts
Amal has what his friends consider to be a real problem. He doesn’t have a large hump on his back like they do, so he surely won’t be able to compete with them as they trudge across the desert. Amal will be thirsty and never survive a trip, and that’s if he’s ever chosen.
This is a perfect combination of author and illustrator. The rhyming text is lengthy, but the fun illustrations and story should appeal to even those with short attention spans.
There are several lessons that can be discussed regarding the story, but nothing came across as overly didactic.
As I finished reading this book, my first thought was that this could easily become a Christmas tradition. Pulling it out each year and reading it as a family would create some beautiful memories.
My Concerns
This is lengthy word-count for a picture book.
Final Thoughts
The fun, rhyming story is lengthy but interesting enough that most children shouldn’t have any trouble keeping focused. The illustrations feel like the perfect accompaniment since they hold a touch of humor, are detailed, and bright.
I enjoyed the story and would recommend it for slightly older children, and that only due to the lengthy word count compared to other picture books.
My thanks to iRead Book Tours and the author for a copy of the book and my ability to post an honest review.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Meet the Author and Interview
Robert Schorr resides in San Clemente, California, with his wife Sharilyn and their family nearby. For 26 years, he served as Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Old Towne in Orange, California. Prior to that, they lived in Asia for 17 years. He is devoted to his Savior, to Sharilyn, his children, flying, hiking, fly-fishing, Chinese, and writing. He loves any story that makes someone special, and he knew, a long time ago, that little Amal had one to tell.
Q: How did you come up with this idea? What made you decide to write a book about a “thirsty camel”?
Robert: Well, I hate to confess that the inspiration came during a very inattentive moment in Hebrew class at graduate school. When I learned that the word for “camel” was “gamal,” Amal just showed up on the scene and intruded his way into the tent, so to speak. I completely tuned Dr. Curtiss out for the rest of the class and began building the story. And, of course, he had to be “thirsty” (Amal I mean, not Dr. Curtiss). What greater crisis can there be for a camel than “thirsty?”
Q: How long did it take you to write the story?
Robert: Oh, that’s a good question — and a little embarrassing. That Hebrew class was years ago. I went right home and wrote out the first few pages, but then got stuck on how I was going to resolve everything and how I was going to tie the Christmas story in with it all. At the same time, I was extremely busy with my work at church and the project just had to stay on the back burner for quite a few years. So, let’s just say it took me forever. Don’t follow my example.
Q: Apart from the Christmas story, there are a few other important themes in the book, like “bullying” and “self-image.” Tell us about those.
Robert: Well…self-image, yes. It’s such an important issue in children’s lives these days, and Amal is really struggling with that. But he’s not actually “bullied”—just “belittled,” and there is a difference. Bullying is one horrible step further over the line, I’m afraid, and I’m so glad there are many new children’s books addressing that issue lately. But I didn’t want my story to be that serious. Besides, teasing and belittling can be devastating to little hearts too. One thing I hope children can carry away from the story is that their true self-worth has nothing to do with other people’s perceptions of them. In my story, all the prejudice against Amal is based on ignorance, ironically enough —the false belief that there’s water in a camel’s hump. And I love how the tables turn on that prejudice and expose it for what it is: pure ignorance.
Q: Tell us some personal things. What are your special interests? When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?
Robert: Oh, goodness. Tennis, hiking, fly-fishing, skiing… oh, and flying. I guess that’s my latest favorite. I’m a private pilot. I don’t own my own plane. I’m in a club that shares several planes. But it’s awfully fun.
Q: And something funny, strange, or scary that you’ve endured?
Robert: Oh, scary, for sure. My first solo flight about ten years ago. I had taken a solo flight just around the airfield already, but that didn’t count —that was no challenge. But my next solo was the long-distance one, over 200 miles, and three destinations. My instructor signed me off that morning. I sat in the airport cafe reviewing my charts and waiting for the plane to be available. And when I finally got up to go do this thing, I was churning inside, and my hand was shaking like a leaf. To think that I would be getting into this machine, all by myself, to go flying all over Southern California, and somehow find my way back… I couldn’t believe it was really me! I had lived a rather cushy American life for decades already and it had been a long time since I’d felt fear like that. But, once I fired her up and took off, I was fine, and it was an absolute thrill when I finally got back to Fullerton. So… scariest moment, and most exhilarating.
Q: What’s in store for the future? What’s your next writing project?
Robert: Well, I have one novel done in a detective series of EK Lingle Mysteries. I am halfway through my second and there are a few more in my head. While trying to get the first one noticed and picked up, I finally just started in on the second one. I love them both. I think they’re good. One way or another, they’re going to make it. They’re worth reading. And I’ve really enjoyed putting them together.
Thanks so much for sharing. I especially loved your answers to the first and second questions . . . well, I loved all of your answers. I can’t wait to read your newest books. I might be wrong, but I bet you’ve managed to add a touch of humor to both of them.
Enter the Giveaway
AMAL THE THIRSTY GAMAL Book Tour Giveaway
Oh, thanks Debbie for the nice review. I’m glad you liked the book. Yes, it’s not your normal picture book, I will admit; I’ve been trying to fit it into a category since it published. Doesn’t quite fit the mold, but then again, neither did Amal, and he did all right in the end.
Very nice site and I enjoyed the interview.
This was such a fun book to read. Thank you for sharing with us. I’m so anxious to read your newest stories.❤️